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Tuesday, 25 July 2017

AYA TIGERNUTS | Interview

If you've never heard of tigernut milk, then you are probably not alone. But now is the time to get clued up.

When I first discovered Aya TigerNuts, it was difficult for me to contain my enthusiasm, for here was an exciting new brand offering a plant-based milk alternative to the citizens of Nigeria. I interviewed Damilola, the inspiring entrepreneur who is set to make tigernut milk a household staple across Nigeria and beyond.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Damilola Jimoh-Adewale, also known as the
Tigernut Chic. I am an aspiring female agri-business entrepreneur who has
ventured into processing locally grown agricultural products (the first being
Tigernuts) to provide proudly Nigerian, healthy and delicious food and drink
options to counter non-natural alternatives.

I love reading, travelling, relaxing and listening to
music and podcasts.

How and why did you decide to launch Aya TigerNuts?

Growing up, I discovered I was lactose intolerant with
its attendant effect on my skin/metabolism. In seeking out non-dairy choices, I
came across tigernuts. This discovery led to the creation of tigernut milk
which is liked by most, and has inspired the business.

The process was really organic. The first thing I did
was to do research tigernuts - what I could make with it and where I could
source it. Then I came up with a great and God-inspired recipe for the milk and
gave samples out to friends and family members. They loved it and began to tell
their friends and colleagues about it and that’s how we started and grew our
customer base.

Now we are working on building a solid brand known for
high quality, delicious and healthy tigernut products.

For those who don't know, can you tell us what
tigernut is?

Contrary to the name tigernuts, they are actually not
nuts but tubers, grown mostly in the North-Western region of
Nigeria. Tigernuts are a traditional food in Nigeria that can be consumed
in various forms. They can be eaten raw as a healthy snack or made into an
all-natural, delicious, milky beverage known as 'Kunnu Aya' (Tigernut Milk),
which serves as a healthy beverage or as a lactose-free alternative to dairy
milk.

Nutritional benefits include:

1. Tigernuts are a highly nutritious plant food that
contain a large number of antioxidants.

2. They have a high amount of soluble glucose and oleic
acid, which helps lower bad cholesterol and prevent heart attacks. They are
also an excellent source of starch, healthy fats, sugars and protein.

3. Tigernuts are rich in Vitamins B1, E, C and minerals
such as phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron (as much as red
meat), which are all essential for bone growth, tissue repair, muscles, body
growth and general well-being.

4. They have a high content of dietary fibre and
insoluble fibre which helps control blood sugar levels, thus preventing
diabetes. They contain enzymes that aid digestion such as catalase, lipase and
amylase, and are often recommended to those who suffer from constipation,
indigestion, flatulence, diarrhoea and those who are watching their weight, as they keep you
feeling fuller for longer, resulting in lower calorie intake.

Describe the process of making tigernut milk?

1. The tigeruts are washed properly and then
soaked in water for about 8 hours.

2. After soaking, you wash again to make sure it is clean
and then it is blended with a grinder or a really sturdy blender.

3. While blending, you can sweeten with dates or leave as
is.

4. After blending, sieve with a cheese cloth or very fine
colander (sieve).

5. Cool immediately. It can last in a very cold fridge for 2 -
3 days (because of the short shelf-life) and in the freezer for up to 2
weeks.

6. What has been the general response
from the Nigerian public? Do you envision more Nigerians switching to tigernut milk as an alternative to regular milk?

The response has been great! People really love the
product, however most people consume it as a beverage and not necessarily as a
dairy-free milk alternative. Although, we do have some customers that consume
it for that benefit.

What does the future look like for Aya TigerNuts? Any plans for expansion?

Yes, we definitely have more plans for expansion! We plan
to release more products and very soon open up a milk bar where delicious tigernut-inspired treats will be served.

Where can customers find your products?

We are stocked at Green Grill House located at Wole
Ariyo, off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Potential customers can call/text 07063043339 to
place an order, or send a direct message to @ayatigernuts on instagram.

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Well, I know that there is lactose intolerance (i wrote a whole reseach about it for HitTheGrade) and that organic is better, but... Isn't vegan of organic food a prerogative of rich people and Southern countries? Because I live in Northern country and it's super expensive to buy fresh veggies and fruits during winter. And often the meat is the only source of energy for us, cause it digest slower and give us more energy to held the cold.